Amid all the excitement of last week's derbi, I ommitted to point out that it marked the halfway point of the 2011/12 season. Betis's 12th position after 19 games as a decent enough start, especially considering how many games they lost under freaky circumstances, and another 23 points between here and the middle of May would certainly keep them up.
On the other hand, I suspect Pepe Mel and most fans would be disappointed if the team didn't better those figures in the second half. In the last month Betis have proved themselves at least the equal of several clubs towards the top of what the papers call the Other League (ie, excluding Madrid and Barça), and if they can continue to see off lesser teams as comfortably as they did Sporting Gijón three weeks ago, they could yet make it as far as the top six.
So, today's game is vitally important, firstly to get the segunda vuelta off to a good start, and secondly, to help confirm the impression that, right now at least, Betis are one of the better football teams in Spain. A chance, as someone once put it, to announce our presence with authority.
Pepe Mel has almost his entire first team available today, with no-one suspended and only Amaya and Vadillo out injured, which most journalists have interepreted as half-blessing, half-curse. Team selection is certainly no easy task these days. It's thought he'll probably go 4-4-2, with Juanma on the right of midfield and either Salva Sevilla or Jefferson Montero on the left, but it's hard to be sure. Mario should return alongside Chechu Dorado in the centre of defence, with new signing Paulao on the bench in case of emergencies.
For a team we've played as much Granada in the last two seasons, the visitors are a surprisingly unknown quantity. Can new coach Abel Resino really change their dynamic in a week? Stranger things have happened, and they do have some decent players, but it's still true that they've only taken three points from their last 15 and away from home have only scored four goals all season. In theory, in-form Betis side should be too good for them.
About 1,000 Granada fans are expected to be at the Benito Villamarín today, taking advantage of the fact that the Betis board declined to charge them the ridiculous €70 that Béticos were required to pay to see the first game of the season. (The best reason to applaud this sensible decision is the sure knowledge that if Lopera had still been running things the price would definitely been €75, just out of spite.)
And if more Béticos than normal are tuned into their radios today, that's because the derbi chico - Sevilla Atlético against Betis B - is being played at the same time. (More fine planning from the LFP.) You'll remember that Betis won the first game comfortably, with Pozuelo taking a staring role in one of the most fun games I've seen all season, but the Sevilla side have reportedly improved a lot since then. Betis B have suffered a lot from call-ups to the first-team squad lately, but they won well last week and are still near the top of their group of Segunda B, so they should have every chance of securing a very nice double. I'll let you know what happens.
I have to admit that, while I'm not a big fan of noon kick-offs in general, there aren't many more pleasant places to spend a Sunday lunchtime in January than in warm Seville sunshine watching mi Beti'. (Hang that, there aren't any.) Up and at 'em, boys.
Comments